National Women's Heart Health Fair

Today, I had the pleasure of assisting with the National Women's Heart Health Fair that took place at the Verizon Center. Even though the weather was not cooperating I was certainly pleased to see so many people come out and take advantage of the free screenings and information that were being offered. Here are a few facts about heart disease:

• Women of all ages are more likely than men to die of heart attacks
• When woman are diagnosed they frequently have more advanced disease than men
• More than one-third of American wormen are 20 pounds or more overweight

Here are the symptoms (in ABC order to make it easy to remember) which may indicate heart disease in women:

Angina(chest pain) if you experience pain or pressure with physical exertion that goes away when you rest

Breathlessness

Chronic Fatigue

Dizziness

Edema (swelling) particularly in the ankles and lower legs

Fluttering or rapid heartbeats

Gastric Upset (nausea)

Please note that the above list are just symptoms to look for and you should consult a physcian if you are experiencing any of the above. Also, to ensure a healthy heart make sure to eat right, get regular exercise and stress management.